(You can read more details explaining how we are doing the dare here:  The Love Dare with FirefighterWife)

Love is Unconditional

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ dies for us.

Romans 5:8

Excerpt from The Love Dare Book

“What if over the course of years, your wife or husband stopped being every one of those things.  Would you still love them?  Based on your answers above, the only logical response would be “no.”  If your reasons for loving your spouse all have something to do with his or her qualities – and then those same qualities suddenly or gradually disappear – your basis for love is over.

The only way love can last a lifetime is if it’s unconditional.  The truth is this: love is not determined by the one being loved but rather by the one choosingto love.

…

The Scriptures say that “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).  This is God’s kind of love.  And thankfully – by your choice – it can become your kind of love. But first you must receive it and share it.

And don’t be surprised, when your spouse begins living confidently under its shade, if he or she doesn’t become even more lovable to you than you remember.  You will no longer say, “I love you because …” You will now say, “I love you, period.”

So as I’m writing this from a hotel room in Europe while on a business trip, my awesome husband tells me he scrubbed our hardwood floor with warm water on his hands and knees today.   I think that says enough about this dare.  He’s pretty wonderful like that.  He also sent me sweet text messages as I drove away to the airport.  We’re in a really good phase now and I’m trying to soak it in because inevitably, there will still be trying times in our marriage.  But its seasons like this that I live confidently in his love.  I love him, period.

“ He who trusts in the Lord, loving kindness shall surround him.  (Psalm 32:10)“

Today’s Dare

Do something out of the ordinary today for your spouse — something that proves (to you and to them) that your love is based on your choice and nothing else.  Wash her car.  Clean the kitchen.  Buy his favorite dessert. Fold the laundry.  Demonstrate love to them for the sheer joy of being their partner in marriage.

How are you doing?  Has it been easy?  Struggling?

Big question for the fire wives…..how are you doing the dares creatively while he is at the firehouse?